Good advice leads to a beautiful smile
Our experienced specialists offer comprehensive consultation services in the fields of aesthetic dentistry and orthodontics. We develop individual solutions in cooperation with your dentist tailored to your wishes and your medical situation. From the first assessment through to the final treatment, we as orthodontists are by your side.
What exactly is aesthetic dentistry?
In dentistry we distinguish between “red dental aesthetics” and “white dental aesthetics”. The first category is concerned with the appearance of the gums, the second with the appearance of the teeth.
Red dental aesthetics is particularly relevant in the front region — that is, in the area of the front teeth in the upper jaw — because this is the area that is mainly visible while you are speaking or laughing. Orthodontics, too, can have a decisive influence on red-white aesthetics.
Which factors besides genetics can influence red-white aesthetics?
Bacterial inflammation of the gums, for example, can lead to a recession of the tissue. With the help of dental therapies, your tissue can be built up again. If your gums have been damaged by tooth loss, for example, they can be partially reconstructed. This is where periodontal surgical procedures come in, which can imitate the restoration of the natural tissue. In many cases, however, preliminary orthodontic therapy with aligners and braces is of great importance in order to place as little strain as possible on the tissue and to minimize risk factors.
Overgrowth or excessively deep periodontal pockets can likewise impair the aesthetics in the red area. Here, too, preliminary orthodontic measures help — such as closing gaps between the teeth, or correcting tooth position with fixed and removable appliances — in order to achieve better end results.
What is a gummy smile correction?
One of the more common irregularities that are perceived as bothersome when smiling is the so-called gummy smile. Here, large areas of the gums in the upper jaw become visible when you smile. Good advice is essential in this case, because the cause of a gummy smile can be due to various factors. In some cases, simple surgical procedures or the removal of gum tissue are not enough to obtain the desired results. Here the therapy is planned very precisely in cooperation with your dentist, and sensible preliminary orthodontic treatments with aligners, braces and mini pins are carried out beforehand. In some cases, even a surgical dysgnathia procedure makes sense, which is likewise carried out with good orthodontic support.
Veneer treatment – aesthetic dentistry for discolored teeth
Within white aesthetics, aesthetic dentistry treats discoloration of the teeth, among other things. This discoloration can be removed by means of professional bleaching. Facing shells, so-called “veneers”, are also used to improve the appearance of the teeth. The ceramic facing shells are bonded to the front of the teeth and can thus not only cover up discoloration of the teeth, but also conceal small unevennesses or irregularities in your teeth.
Why does preliminary orthodontic therapy make sense?
We advise you on how you can minimize the removal of tooth substance through good preliminary orthodontic therapy. In some cases, where the removal of hard tooth substance cannot be avoided, the right preliminary therapy allows us to offer you minimally invasive preparation (minimal removal of enamel). That way, as much natural substance as possible is preserved on your teeth. Here, too, the use of aligners alongside braces is not ruled out, in order to give you a preliminary therapy that is as discreet as possible. In cooperation with your dentist, we put together an individual treatment plan for you.
Our goal is to make a veneer treatment with the least possible loss of tooth substance possible for you. In the ideal case, the treatment is carried out entirely without any removal of tooth substance.
Even if you happen to have individual teeth that are too small (hypoplasia), the precise positioning of the teeth and gaps by means of aligners or braces is very important for the further aesthetic therapy carried out by your dentist. This allows us to enable symmetrical corrections that give you a natural-looking, harmonious smile. Your dentist can then choose between filling therapy (direct composite method) or veneer and crown therapy — whichever method is best for you — in order to make the best and most natural-looking results possible.
What benefits does aesthetic dentistry offer?
In aesthetic dentistry we attach great importance to combining aesthetics and function. This means that even where there is no therapeutic urgency, the goal of the therapy is not only the optimal appearance, but also optimal health of your teeth and gums. It is not sensible, for example, to grind down teeth that are too long simply in order to restore the aesthetics. Instead, a more harmonious overall picture of the teeth should be created through suitable orthodontics, in order to improve the bite as well and to reduce any bruxism that may be present. Splint therapies with the help of Invisalign aligners or other aligner systems also help here, making discreet therapies possible. In this way, the aesthetics of your teeth become possible entirely without loss of tooth substance. Where the limits of orthodontics have been reached, however, sensible aesthetic corrections by your dentist can give you a good result.
The benefits of aesthetic dentistry at a glance:
- ensures better chewing function
- provides for healthier gums
- protects the teeth
- supports holistic health
- provides well-cared-for, radiant teeth
- promotes healthy, well-cared-for gums
The course of treatment in aesthetic dentistry
We want to help you achieve an optimal treatment result that matches your aesthetic wishes. Together we decide how aesthetic dentistry can support your well-being and which options are best suited to you. Here is an advance look at how it works:
Initial conversation and information: Before your actual treatment, there is an informative conversation with our professionally experienced orthodontists. In it, we explain the details of the course of treatment in the orthodontic area and answer your questions.
Detailed examination and diagnosis: A precise examination of your teeth and gums forms the basis of any further orthodontic treatment. We assess your teeth in order to detect possible diseases at an early stage and to adapt our therapies accordingly. This ensures a treatment tailored to you and an optimal treatment result. In doing so, we also consult with your dentist, so that the planning of your preliminary treatment and the aesthetic therapy at your dentist are arranged sensibly.
3D visualization of the teeth: In our practice we offer state-of-the-art imaging procedures in order to depict your teeth in detail and to respond even better to individual particularities.
Regular check-up appointments: Depending on the treatment method, several treatment appointments or regular check-up appointments may be necessary. These appointments serve to monitor the progress of your therapy and, where necessary, to intervene correctively so that the treatment proceeds as planned.
The treatment duration in aesthetic dentistry
How long a therapy to restore or preserve aesthetic results takes depends on the condition of your teeth and gums as well as on the therapy you choose. It is best to inform yourself about the prosthetic (dental) steps at your dentist. The placement of veneers, for example, can be completed in a single session. Building up the gums, on the other hand, generally requires several sessions within a period of several weeks. The details of the preliminary orthodontic treatment, however, we discuss with you in a joint conversation.
Stay healthy in body and soul – your Dr. Hakim
Further articles:
Interdisciplinary aesthetic dentistry at your orthodontist
Dental Monitoring – smart orthodontics
Orthodontics vs. prosthodontics
FAQs – frequently asked questions about aesthetic dentistry
What does treatment in the field of aesthetic dentistry cost?
Aesthetic dentistry covers a number of therapy options for restoring healthy, aesthetic teeth. Depending on which therapy you choose, the costs vary considerably. The costs also depend on the diagnosis, the condition of your teeth and gums, and the corresponding material and time involved. Before you select a treatment option, you receive a detailed consultation from us. In it, we explain the differences between the various preliminary therapies with aligners, such as Invisalign, or with fixed braces. On that basis, we then prepare a cost estimate for you. That way you are always well informed about the costs involved. You can find out about the costs of the follow-up therapies at the dentist in a conversation with the dentist you trust.
Does health insurance cover the costs of aesthetic dentistry?
Here, too, the type of treatment is the deciding factor. Many therapies in aesthetic dentistry are purely cosmetic measures. This includes professional bleaching, for example, or the placement of veneers. These treatments are not covered by statutory health insurance and, as a rule, not by some private insurers either, since treatments of this kind do not represent a medical necessity.
That said, aesthetic treatments that come with a medical necessity can certainly arise as well. This is the case, for example, with a severe skeletal discrepancy requiring surgical dysgnathia treatment. Here the costs are covered in part, depending on your insurance. It makes sense to ask your insurance provider about coverage in advance of the respective treatments.
Who is aesthetic dentistry suitable for?
Depending on the diagnosis and the treatment options, aesthetic dentistry can be applied at any age.
Before aesthetic dental treatment is started, attention should be paid to possible diseases of the teeth. This means that treating existing dental disease takes priority over purely cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic and health-relevant procedures often go hand in hand. Whether — and which — orthodontic therapy within aesthetic dentistry is suitable for you is something our experts will tell you in an individual consultation at our practice.
Do you have further questions about aesthetic dentistry? Then simply book your personal consultation appointment online via our website. Dr. Hakim and his entire team are glad to answer your questions.